Author: Gerry Huntman

spec-fic writer and publisher

Author copies received: Bullet Points 2

Had the pleasure of receiving author copies of Bullet Points 2, a military sci fi anthology edited by Nathan W. Toronto. My story, ‘Fred Has a Productive Day’ is in it, a tiny piece exploring AI in a post-apocalyptic future (it was first published in Battlespace: A Military Science Fiction Anthology by The SciFi Show some years ago. This is a quality anthology, not glorifying war but using literature to bring veterans and non-veterans together. A worthy cause. It is also pretty cool to share my story in a volume with so many great authors, most notably Joe Haldeman.

News: Guardian of the Sky Realms is released

I’m very pleased indeed to announce that my middle grade fantasy novel, Guardian of the Sky Realms, is now released through Meerkat Press.

To celebrate the release, my publisher has organised an extensive blog tour – I’m enjoying it already, and there’s lots about me and the title that will be revealed – please take a look.

On a personal note, I can’t thank Trish Reeks, Managing Director of Meerkat, enough for her support and effort to get my book out, and ticking every box imaginable, in doing it right for the middle grade readership. I also look forward to having the book’s sequel, Champion of the Sky Realms, released next year. There’s so much story to tell…

Upcoming Release: Guardian of the Sky Realms

In four days my young teen fantasy novel, Guardian of the Sky Realms, will be released world-wide through Meerkat Press.

I will be participating in a blog tour this time round and I look forward to talking about the novel, what inspired me to write it, and perhaps drop an easter egg or two about the upcoming sequel, Champion of the Sky Realms (out next year).

For those of you who want to purchase early, here’s some links to Guardian of the Sky Realms, including preorders:

Amazon print (anywhere)
Amazon kindle (US)
Barnes and Noble (print or Nook Book)

The following sites have preorder facilities as well, but are catching up getting the cover graphic:
The Book Depository
Boomerang Books (Australia)
Booktopia (Australia)

Of course, this book is also available through all good bricks and mortar stores.

A Life-Changing Event

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On 1 July 2020 my life will change forever, and many of my dreams and aspirations will actually come to fruition: I will become a full-time writer and publisher.

2020 has been a bad year for a bunch of reasons, the main one being of course the pandemic, which has touched on virtually every person on this planet. It has affected me and my family as well. And yet, through hard work and good fortune, my plans to move to full time writing and publishing from 2021, has actually turned into an ‘early mark’.

Over recent years my ‘day job’ was a good one, one where I had developed great professional relationships and where I believe I made a good contribution to my employer. As long as I was in this job my writing and publishing efforts had to be second in the queue, or where I had to find those extra hours at the oddest of times. It did take its toll on my health. Now this is no longer the case.

The biggest transition for me, moving forward, is to set up my new routines, where my new day job is split between writing and running my two publishing imprints, and of course, having more time to spend with my family (who have always been my highest priority in life). This is a challenge that I look forward to, and it will be a delight. I also look forward to attending more industry conventions, in Australia and overseas.

2021 is going to be another watershed time for me and my family, as we plan to find our ‘forever home’ and it is likely to be up north a fair way (we live in Melbourne, Victoria, and we will either move to NSW or Queensland). There is no rush with this, and we want to do this right.

So… you are reading the mutterings of a very happy writer and publisher. I so very much hope that your dreams will also come true for you.

Book Review: The Invisible by Seb Doubinsky

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Note: I received an ARC copy of this book from Seb Doubinsky without any strings attached. I am a friend of Seb’s and he knew I was interested in reading it.

The Invisible, by Seb Doubinsky, will be released in May 2020. I had the good luck to receive an early copy and dive into Doubinsky’s New Babylon universe (The City-States Cycle).

The book was a godsend for me, as I had just had elective surgery and I needed something to distract me from a painful post-operative recovery. Doubinsky has a poet’s style to his writing, infusing poetry or poetic-prose where he can, and writing in an extremely lean, precise manner. And yes, it works. It carries vibrant descriptions, staccato-style scene changes, and a mathematical (yet natural) heartbeat pace. As is often the case, the author effortlessly marries his poetic prose with a rich noir setting and tone, an anarchist’s ear for politics (always triggered through a dystopian narrative), and an ever-present undercurrent of weird. The weird is the key for me – what makes his work particularly original, and which often maintains an uneasiness for the reader, even at a story’s conclusion – and most certainly in the case of The Invisible.

I will refrain from providing details of the plot as it is something that needs to be experienced totally fresh, but it is a delightful slice of his magnificent world building, allowing the reader to taste, smell, feel the grimy city of New Babylon, both on the streets as well as in the off-colour halls of power. There are twists and secret societies, betrayal and love and friendship. There were moments when I thought the love was too good, too well conceived, but I’m sure that this was deliberately constructed to add to the uneasiness of the reader, ever-wondering that there will be disappointment, adding empathy for the protagonist, Ratner. Masterful in my opinion. The story stands alone but is clearly only a stepping stone to the next book in the City-States Cycle – this too was well crafted, with the aid of a cat’s bum (you have to read it to understand).

New Release: The Body Parts Room

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Just came out of the virtual Launch Party for the Aussie Speculative Fiction group’s anthology, Journeys, where my horror piece, ‘The Body Parts Room’, is one among many stories included. All of them are excellent! The ASF did a great job – a very active group.

This story is about a journey, like all 15 in the anthology, but this one is about a man’s tragic story, intertwined with an event that occurred in the early 20th century, which is still journeying to this day. Say no more.

This is a good link to purchase this ebook. www.books2read.com/u/4AxBVe

Thoughts: Love on the Spectrum (ABC TV)

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I was rather lucky to spot the fact that Love on the Spectrum was airing on ABC TV (Australia) when it first actually appeared free to air. I was (sort of) reluctant to see it, as shows that dive deep into children and young adults with ASD exposes my sensitivities to the subject because of my autistic daughter, but Jenny and I decided to give it a go. I’m so glad we did.

Continue reading “Thoughts: Love on the Spectrum (ABC TV)” →

Cover Reveal: Guardian of the Sky Realms

So pleased to reveal the front cover for Guardian of the Sky Realms, to be released early 2020 by Meerkat Press. A wonderful cover in itself, it is also perfectly in tune with the age group it is targeted for 12 to 14 years. I suspect anyone who likes unadulterated adventure would also enjoy my novel.

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